Five golf lessons for small business

I played tennis growing up. With tennis, certain shots worked over and over again and others didn’t. With golf, what worked on the last hole, did not work at all due to the different conditions. That was lesson one. What worked yesterday does not always work today. We need to be responsive and adaptive to changing economic conditions and consumer sentiment.

Lesson two was on the third hole. I had two swings and completely missed the ball – didn’t even touch it. While I was mighty frustrated that my game was not working, I still made sure I encouraged and congratulated the others in my foursome. Even when business or your own life is not going according to plan, you still need to encourage your team.
Lesson three was that if I really want to get better at golf (which I am not sure I do yet), I am going to have to dedicate time and effort to it. One of my team mates told me he played once, sometimes twice a week. He has been playing for 20 years and has been dedicated in trying to master this game. I couldn’t expect to pick up a golf club after three years and be an expert.

My fourth lesson was to stop and appreciate the good things every day rather than focus on the things that aren’t going so well. My game wasn’t going that well but I was on a 100 year old, beautiful, golf course. I got to meet some amazing people, see kangaroos and other wildlife and enjoy a great sunny day.

My fifth lesson was to stay focussed on the present. When I hit a good shot, I was focussed on the ball (the present) and not where I was trying to hit it (the future). This was the best lesson for me that day. In our personal life and business life, sometimes we come unstuck because we are too focussed on what happened in the past or what will happen in the future. Forward planning is important but so is a focus on your current customers and staff, and appreciating what you have today.

I salute the people that master this very challenging game. I might see you on the course. Fore.